Black raspberry plant named &#39;Niwot&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct primocane-fruiting (autumn-bearing) cultivar of black raspberry,  Rubus occidentalis,  named ‘Niwot’. The ‘Niwot’ black raspberry was created as a complex cross of two unnamed black raspberry plants collected from uncultivated areas. ‘Niwot’ black raspberry is capable of providing a reliable and productive crop of large black raspberries on primocanes in late summer and early autumn when there are no fresh black raspberries available from other commercial cultivars of black raspberry. ‘Niwot’ also provides a reliable and productive crop of black raspberries on any retained floricanes in late June and early July.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

None

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

None

GENUS AND SPECIES

Rubus occidentalis

VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘Niwot’

DESCRIPTION OF RELATED PRIOR ART

Several primocane-fruiting red raspberries are known commercially.Examples include red raspberry cultivars ‘Heritage,’ not patented, and‘Caroline,’ described in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 10,412.

‘Explorer’ primocane-fruiting black raspberry was described in U.S.Plant Pat. No. 17,727. During evaluation trials of ‘Explorer’ blackraspberry it was discovered that the ‘Explorer’ black raspberry is notself-fruitful and requires an outside source of pollen.

The Small Fruits of New York, by U. P. Hedrick, New York StateAgriculture Experiment Station, Geneva, N.Y., 1925, lists about fifteennamed varieties of primocane-fruiting black raspberry, the earliestnamed and most widely distributed of which was ‘Ohio Everbearing.’ As of2012, there was no known source for ‘Ohio Everbearing’, nor was there acommercial source for any other primocane-fruiting black raspberryvariety.

Raspberries and Blackberries: Their Breeding, Diseases and Growth, by D.L. Jennings, 1988, ISBN 0-12-384240-9, describes the existence ofprimocane-fruiting black raspberries in the past, including ‘OhioEverbearing,’ but indicates that the primocane-fruiting trait is unusualfor black raspberries.

In an effort to extend the harvest season, a grower will sometimes mowdown floricanes of a summer-fruiting, non-primocane-fruitingblack-raspberry cultivar in early spring, to about 20 cm high, forcingfruiting laterals to grow from the remaining lower portion of the cane.Berries growing on these laterals will begin ripening after ripening iscomplete in a typical floricane crop. While these fruiting laterals,sometimes called “crown laterals”, may appear to have somecharacteristics similar to fruiting primocanes, they are not veryproductive and they die at the end of the season, thus proving that theyare not primocanes. Usually, the berries ripen on such fruiting lateralsearlier than berries ripen on the primocanes of true primocane-fruitingblack raspberries such as ‘Explorer’ and ‘Niwot’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The ‘Niwot’ black raspberry is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the inventor starting in Poughkeepsie, N.Y. and continuingin Longmont, Colo.

The ‘Niwot’ black raspberry originated from ancestry consisting of twoselections from uncultivated areas, called W1 and W2 for purposes ofthis description. W1 and W2 described in the instant invention are theidentical selections also designated as W1 and W2 for the description of‘Explorer’ in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,727.

The black raspberry plant described herein as W1 was aprimocane-fruiting black raspberry plant discovered by the inventor inthe autumn of 1986 in an overgrown but previously landscaped residentialarea in Poughkeepsie, N.Y., and collected in the spring of 1988. W1exhibited a reliable primocane-fruiting habit over the several yearsobserved, but it had small berries and a small number of berries on eachprimocane, so it was not commercially useful.

The black raspberry plant described herein as W2 was the asexuallypropagated progeny of a black raspberry plant discovered in anuncultivated area near Rogers, Ark. and collected in the summer of 1991.W2 demonstrated an unusually large berry size for an uncultivated blackraspberry. W2 did not exhibit the primocane-fruiting trait.

Selection numbered S3 was selected by the inventor in September 1993from a population of seedlings grown in Poughkeepsie, N.Y. fromopen-pollinated seeds of W1. S3 was selected for producing higherquality floricane berries and larger primocane berries compared toberries of W1.

The controlled cross numbered 9866 was W2×S3 made by the inventor inLongmont, Colo. in May 1998 using floricane flowers. W2 was the seedparent, and S3 was the pollen parent. F₁ generation seedling numbered9866.2 was selected by the inventor in June 2002 from a population of9866 cross seedlings grown in Longmont, Colo. Selection 9866.2 wasselected for large, attractive floricane berries.

The F₂ generation seedling numbered 9866.2.A that is the parent of theinstant invention was grown in a cultivated area in Longmont, Colo. andselected by the inventor in July 2004 from a population of seedlingsgrown from open-pollinated seeds of 9866.2. Selection 9866.2.A wasselected for large, attractive floricane berries. Selection 9866.2.A didnot exhibit the primocane-fruiting trait.

None of the numbered selections W1, W2, S3, 9866, 9866.2, and 9866.2.Awas named or patented.

The black raspberry in the instant invention was selected by theinventor from a population of seedlings grown by the inventor fromopen-pollinated seeds of 9866.2.A in a cultivated area in Longmont,Colo. The F₃ generation seedling selection numbered 9866.2.A.4 wasselected in June 2006 for large floricane berries. At the time offloricane selection, floricane berries weighing up to 2.4 g wereobserved. Selection 9866.2.A.4 was reselected in August 2006 for aproductive crop of large primocane berries. At the time of primocaneselection, berries weighing up to 3.7 g were observed. The selectionnumber was abbreviated to PT-2A4 during asexual propagation andevaluation trials, then later named ‘Niwot’ after a village in thevicinity of the inventor's garden.

The primary market for ‘Niwot’ black raspberry plants is expected to behome growers, U-pick growers, farmers-market growers, and specialty-foodgrowers for production of fresh black raspberries in both the earlysummer season and the late summer to early autumn season.

ASEXUAL REPRODUCTION

Asexual reproduction of the ‘Niwot’ black raspberry was accomplished inLongmont, Colo. by the inventor, from primocane cuttings taken in summer2007 and grown over the winter for planting in spring 2008 and againfrom primocane cuttings taken in summer 2008 and grown over the winterfor planting in spring 2009. After new canes sprouted from successfullyrooted cuttings, additional asexual reproduction was accomplished byallowing the ends of some of these newly sprouted canes to tip root. Anasexually propagated plant of ‘Niwot’ black raspberry planted in May2008 produced large primocane berries in August 2008. The ability toripen berries on primocanes and the substantially identical berryweights and druplet counts for this asexually propagated plant comparedto the original selection demonstrate that the unique features of thisnew black raspberry are stable and reproduced true to type in thesuccessive generation. The ability to bear fruit during the first yearafter being asexually propagated demonstrates that theprimocane-fruiting habit is fully established and precocious in theasexually propagated plants. Additional asexual reproduction frommeristem tissue culture was performed in South Deerfield, Mass. between2008 and 2012; these meristem tissue-culture plants were produced afterseveral generations of rooted-cutting propagation and meristemtissue-culture propagation and are also true to type.

SUMMARY OF THE NEW CULTIVAR

The following characteristics have been repeatedly observed and aredetermined to be the basic outstanding characteristics of ‘Niwot’ blackraspberry as a new and distinct cultivar:

-   -   1. Reliable primocane-fruiting production of black raspberries        every year, then reliable floricane fruiting the following year        on the surviving portions of any floricanes that are retained.    -   2. Production of black raspberries that ripen in late summer and        early autumn, after the normal season for floricane production        of black raspberries and before an autumn freeze terminates        production.    -   3. Large berry size, with primocane-produced berries usually        exceeding a weight of 1.6 grams, and with some berries exceeding        2.4 grams each. A few berries up to 3.9 grams have been        observed.    -   4. Large number of berries on a primocane with an unbranched        primocane having over 50 berries.    -   5. Reliable production of good-quality berries without requiring        an outside pollen source.    -   6. Canes hardy for overwintering without protection in USDA zone        5 to permit production of berries on floricanes the following        summer.

Comparison to Existing Cultivars

The ‘Niwot’ black raspberry can be compared to the black raspberrycultivar ‘Explorer’, which was developed by the inventor and distributedfor evaluation between 2005 and 2007. Compared to ‘Explorer’, the‘Niwot’ black raspberry produces fruits reliably in the absence of anoutside pollen source, whereas ‘Explorer’ is not fruitful in the absenceof an outside pollen source. Berries of ‘Niwot’ are larger than‘Explorer’ with a higher number of druplets, and seeds of ‘Niwot’ aresmaller than those of ‘Explorer’. Primocane berries of ‘Niwot’ ripenseveral days later than ‘Explorer’. ‘Niwot’ does not exhibit the reducedcane prickliness characteristic of ‘Explorer’.

The ‘Niwot’ black raspberry can be compared to the black raspberrycultivar ‘Bristol’ (unpatented), which was released in 1934 by the NewYork Fruit Testing Association in Geneva, N.Y. Compared to ‘Bristol’,the ‘Niwot’ black raspberry reliably produces fruits on primocanes,whereas ‘Bristol’ is not known to produce fruits on primocanes, only onfloricanes. If floricanes of ‘Bristol’ do not survive the winter, thereis no crop in the summer. Production of ‘Niwot’ black raspberry onprimocanes may be accomplished in certain regions even after winterdamage to the overwintered canes, provided the crown can be protectedfrom winter injury.

The ‘Niwot’ black raspberry can be compared to the black raspberrycultivar ‘Jewel’ (unpatented), which was developed at Cornell UniversityAgricultural Experiment Station, Geneva, N.Y. and released in 1973. The‘Jewel’ black raspberry cultivar was not released as aprimocane-fruiting cultivar and only occasionally develops flowers onprimocanes. The inventor grew ‘Jewel’ black raspberry for several yearsin Longmont, Colo. and only occasionally ‘Jewel’ produced a limitednumber of berries on a single primocane. Once mature, the ‘Niwot’ blackraspberry reliably produces fruit on most primocanes every year as grownin Longmont, Colo. The ‘Niwot’ black raspberry floricane-producedberries are slightly smaller and start ripening one to two weeks earliercompared to the floricane-produced berries of ‘Jewel’. The ‘Niwot’ blackraspberry demonstrates equal or better vigor compared to ‘Jewel’ asgrown in Longmont, Colo. The ‘Niwot’ black raspberry demonstrates betterwinter hardiness than ‘Jewel’ in Longmont, Colo., which is USDAhardiness zone 5.

Primocanes of summer-fruiting black raspberry cultivars, for example‘Cumberland’ (unpatented) or ‘Bristol’, arch over at mid-summer andcontinue growing downward rapidly in preparation for self-inducedasexual propagation through tip-rooting by the end of the growingseason. After the plant is mature and with good pruning, the ‘Niwot’black raspberry plant only occasionally propagates itself by tiprooting. The ‘Niwot’ black raspberry has not been observed to spread byroot suckering as is exhibited by many red raspberry cultivars.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a photograph that illustrates the detail of several berriesand leaves of ‘Niwot’ when berries are ripening at the end of anunpruned primocane of ‘Niwot’ as growing in an evaluation row atColorado State University Boulder County Extension in Longmont, Colo.The photograph was taken on Aug. 11, 2012.

FIG. 2 is a photograph that illustrates the overall appearance of blackraspberries ripening at the end of an unpruned primocane of ‘Niwot’ asgrowing in an evaluation row at Colorado State University Boulder CountyExtension in Longmont, Colo. The photograph was taken on Aug. 11, 2012.

FIG. 3 is a photograph that illustrates the progression of ripeningberries on a single primocane. The photograph shows the same primocaneas the primocane in FIG. 2, but the photograph in FIG. 3 was taken 7days later than the photograph in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a chart that illustrates the mean weekly berry crop productionper plant in 2013 in the inventor's garden of five second-year ‘Niwot’black raspberry plants; the chart shows production in both floricane andprimocane ripening seasons.

FIG. 5 is a photograph that illustrates four ‘Niwot’ berries togetherwith two receptacles left behind when the ripe berries were picked;photograph was taken on Aug. 18, 2012 of berries grown in the evaluationrow at Colorado State University Boulder County Extension in Longmont,Colo.

FIG. 6 is a photograph that illustrates the lower portion of two ‘Niwot’primocanes as they enter winter dormancy to show the general pricklinessof the selection. This particular asexually propagated ‘Niwot’ plant wasplanted in spring 2012 from plants produced using meristem tissueculture. The photograph was taken on Nov. 19, 2012. Leaves on theprimocane segments in the photograph were removed to better illustratethe prickles.

FIG. 7 is a photograph that illustrates two ‘Niwot’ leaves taken from aprimocane on Oct. 13, 2013, one leaf showing the lower surface and theother showing the upper surface.

FIG. 8 is a photograph that shows the pattern of receptacles left at theend of the season after all berries have been picked on an unbranchedprimocane that had not been tip pruned. Leaves were removed to betterillustrate the receptacle positions. A portion of a meter stick isincluded to illustrate the scale. The illustrated primocane ripenedapproximately 58 berries.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The ‘Niwot’ black raspberry has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, humidity, day length,light intensity, water, nutritional status, and pruning practicewithout, however, any variance in genotype.

The following description is based on observations made in Longmont,Colo. in the inventor's garden during the 2009 to 2013 growing seasonsof asexually propagated progeny of the originally selected ‘Niwot’ blackraspberry plant. Plants introduced from 2009 to 2011 were based onplants asexually propagated by rooting primocane cuttings. Plantsintroduced in 2012 were asexually propagated by meristem tissue-culture.The garden beds were prepared with native clay soil enhanced withcompost mix and peat moss, along with treatment of superphosphate andsoil sulfur applied according to label directions at the time ofpreparation and mulched with newspaper and cedar bark mulch. Theseplants were fertilized lightly in June 2013 and August 2013 with awater-soluble acidifying fertilizer applied from a hose-end sprayer.Productivity measurements in the instant invention were based on the2013 crop of five plants introduced in 2012.

Additional observations and photographs were taken at the Colorado StateUniversity Boulder County Extension small-fruits evaluation garden inLongmont, Colo., hereinafter called “Extension garden”. Soil in theExtension garden was prepared with approximately 0.14 cubic meters peatmoss and 333 ml granular organic lawn fertilizer 8-2-1 per 4 meter row,and the soil was formed into raised beds. Seven ‘Niwot’ black raspberryplants were planted in a 4 meter row at a spacing of 0.6 meters apart.The row was planted in spring 2009 with plants that had been asexuallypropagated by rooting primocane cuttings taken in summer 2008. Plants inthe row were given fertilization with water soluble organic fertilizerapplied per label directions, either 5-11-11 or 20-20-20 in alternatingyears, on May 1, June 1, July 1 and, in some years, on August 1.

The colors are described based on the plates of The Royal HorticulturalSociety Colour Chart, fourth edition, 2001. Colors of certaincharacteristics may vary through the season, so some colors aredescribed along with the date the color was measured.

Primocane Growth and Appearance:

A primocane of an established ‘Niwot’ black raspberry plant that emergesin the spring goes on to produce fruit in the same year. Onceestablished, each plant normally produces several such primocanes fromthe same crown. In late June or early July, the primocane can be tippruned to reduce arching and increase the number of fruits to beproduced by the primocane. After tip pruning, several branches areformed from each primocane. Alternatively, the primocane can be leftunpruned, which allows the ripening of berries earlier than if the canesare pruned, although there will be fewer berries on the cane. FIG. 2shows the berries ripening on the end of an unpruned primocane on Aug.11, 2012. FIG. 3 shows the berry ripening progression on the sameprimocane as FIG. 2 seven days later than FIG. 2. FIG. 8 shows theoverall pattern of inflorescence on an unpruned primocane after fruitinghas finished for the season.

Primocane length and overall height and width of the plant depend onsoil conditions, branching habit of the plant, pruning treatment, typeof support, age of the plant, vigor of the plant, and competition forlight with other plants or objects. As a result, these characteristicscannot readily be described as cultivar characteristics. The formationof inflorescence on the end of a primocane or primocane branchterminates further primocane extension at that site. Immature ‘Niwot’plants have been observed to be less likely to form flowers than aremore mature plants. Plants that have been asexually propagated usingmeristem tissue culture are apparently rejuvenated by the tissue-cultureprocess and, as a result do not readily form flowers in the firstgrowing season.

A ‘Niwot’ black raspberry plant will occasionally propagate itself bytip rooting on the end of the primocane instead of producing flowers,but this behavior is materially inhibited by proper pruning techniquesand formation of flowers once the plant is mature enough to startfruiting.

-   Primocanes:    -   -   Habit.—Semi-upright to arching.        -   Emergence.—Typically around April 15; somewhat variable by            seasonal conditions in the spring.        -   Length.—Variable, depending on growing conditions and            pruning treatment. On second-year plants in the inventor's            garden in 2013, most unpruned canes ranged from 160 cm to            230 cm before cane growth was terminated by inflorescence.        -   Quantity.—Primocane quantity depends on the age of the plant            and its growing conditions. On first-year plants from tissue            culture in the inventor's garden in the year of planting            2012, one or two primocanes were observed as illustrated in            FIG. 6. On second-year plants in the inventor's garden in            2013, plants grew from 9 to 19 primocanes, with a mean of 14            canes. In the Extension garden of seven mature ‘Niwot’            plants, the mean primocane count in 2012 was 10 primocanes            per plant.        -   Color.—Glaucous. Early season (May 20, 2012) waxy bloom            greyed-green 194D; waxy bloom rubbed off yellow-green 144A.            Mid season (Jul. 25, 2010) waxy bloom blue-green 122D; waxy            bloom rubbed off yellow-green 146B. Winter dormant season            (Mar. 17, 2010) waxy bloom violet-blue 91C, near violet-blue            91D and violet-blue 92D; waxy bloom rubbed off greyed-red            178A.        -   Cross section.—Nearly circular exclusive of prickles.        -   Diameter.—As measured on seven mature plants in the            Extension garden, 0.6 cm to 1.4 cm at base of primocane,            with a mean of 0.92 cm (November 2012). Prickles Sharp,            length typically 2.6 to 3.6 mm, diameter at base typically            0.25 to 0.5 mm tapering to point as illustrated in FIG. 6.            From a primocane taken from the Extension garden, at the            base, prickles small, mean 41 prickles per cm of cane; at 50            cm high, mean 2 prickles per cm of cane; within            inflorescence at end of cane mean 3.2 prickles per cm of            cane; dormant cane prickle color somewhat variable including            greyed-orange 172C (January 2013).        -   Leaves.—Odd-pinnately compound with three leaflets; not            overlapped; leaflets predominantly elliptical to reniform,            margins irregularly double serrate, tips acute to acuminate,            and base rounded to cordate; not pubescent; upper surface            green 139A (Jul. 25, 2010), lower surface color greyed-green            190B (Jul. 25, 2010); later in season lower surface color            between greyed-green 198B and greyed-green 198C. FIG. 7            illustrates two leaves from a primocane.        -   Apex leaflet.—Length 9 cm to 16.6 cm, mean 11.3 cm; width            5.8 cm to 8.5 cm, mean 7.4 cm; small prickles present on            underside of leaf central vein 0 to 3, mean 2.        -   Side leaflet.—Length 8.5 cm to 11 cm, mean 9.6 cm; width 4.8            cm to 7.2 cm, mean 5.8 cm; small prickles present on            underside of leaf central vein 1 to 4, mean 2.7.        -   Petiole.—Mean length 6.8 cm; from 2 to 8 small prickles on            the underside, mean prickle count 6; diameter 0.14 cm to 2.1            cm mean 0.18 cm.        -   Petiolule.—For side leaflets, small, 0 to 0.2 cm, diameter            0.1 cm to 0.15 cm.        -   Rachis.—For apex leaflet, typically 2.7 to 3.9 cm; usually 2            or 3 small prickles on the underside; upper side            yellow-green 146D changing to fall color red-purple 59A            (Oct. 13, 2013).        -   Flower.—Form typical for black raspberries, so cannot be            used to identify the cultivar. Flowers begin forming in            early summer; in 2013 in the inventor's garden, primocane            fruit buds started forming on July 15, and the first flower            opened July 25. Outside surface of sepal pubescent.        -   Flower count.—Count of flowering positions on a branch of a            tip-pruned primocane was mean of 36 with combined overall            flowering positions on a single primocane for all branches            mean 183. Count of flowering positions on an unpruned            primocane mean 54.        -   Disease.—No significant disease susceptibility or resistance            observed compared to other red raspberry and black raspberry            cultivars as grown in Longmont, Colo.        -   Pests.—No significant pest susceptibility or resistance            observed compared to other red raspberry and black raspberry            cultivars as grown in Longmont, Colo.        -   Heat.—Primocanes and ripening fruit observed to be tolerant            of heating conditions for Longmont, Colo., which is            designated as American Horticultural Society heat zones 6            and 7. During the flowering and berry ripening season,            daytime temperature exceed 95 degrees Fahrenheit at times.        -   Hardiness.—Overwintering dormant primocanes are hardy for            Longmont, Colo., hardiness zone 5b (−15 degrees Fahrenheit            to −10 degrees Fahrenheit average).-   Ripening schedule of primocane berries: Timing of primocane berry    ripening depends on floricane treatment, primocane tip pruning,    plant age, and weather and growing conditions. Eliminating    floricanes before growth starts in the spring will frequently cause    primocane berry ripening earlier than if floricanes are retained to    fruit in the summer. Tip pruning to increase the berry count on a    primocane will delay the start of ripening of berries on the    primocane, with the particular ripening date somewhat dependent on    the tip pruning date. In the inventor's garden in 2010, a primocane    cane tip pruned on June 21 started ripening berries on August 13, or    about 53 days after tip pruning. In the inventor's garden, berries    on a cane tip pruned on Jul. 1, 2013 started ripening berries on    Sep. 21, 2013, or about 82 days from tip pruning. Regular    fertilization can encourage berry ripening earlier than on weak    plants. On a single plant of several primocanes, several different    ripening schedules can be induced by tip pruning different    primocanes at different times. FIG. 1 shows the details of berries    ripening on the end of an unpruned primocane in the Extension garden    on Aug. 11, 2012.-   Primocane berries:    -   -   Size.—Large; earlier ripening berries tend to be larger than            later ripening berries on the same primocane. Average of            measurements taken from berries harvested from the            inventor's garden on Sep. 8, 2013: mean weight 3.1 g, with            most berries exceeding 2.7 g, and a few berries up to 3.9 g.            Later in the season, on September 29, mean berry weight 2.6            g with most berries exceeding 2 g. Berries harvested at the            Extension garden on Aug. 18, 2012: mean weight 1.9 g; most            berries weighed more than 1.6 g, and a few berries reached            2.3 g. At the Extension garden in 2013, the first primocane            berries ripened on August 24.        -   Shape.—Overall near truncated sphere, usually truncated            slightly below the equator, so slightly larger than a            hemisphere; shape of several berries is illustrated in FIG.            1 and FIG. 5. Upon careful measurement, may be found toward            truncated ellipsoid, also truncated slightly below the            equator. Berry surface as illustrated in FIG. 5 consists of            the truncated-spherical exposed portions of many interlocked            drupelets, some dimpled, each truncated above the equator;            overall bumpy surface appearance usually associated with            raspberries. On berries taken from the inventor's garden on            Sep. 29, 2013 the mean height was 1.7 cm, mean diameter 1.8            cm.        -   Druplets.—Sampled berries taken from the inventor's garden            on Sep. 29, 2013 exhibited from 110 to 152 druplets per            berry, with a mean of 123 druplets.        -   Receptacle.—Receptacle left behind when the ripe berry is            picked cylindrical to conical, rounded apex; receptacle size            and shape also describe the size and shape of the berry            cavity. FIG. 5 illustrates the receptacle shape.        -   Seeds.—Average weight 2.0±0.1 mg; measured after separating            the seeds from the pulp with water in a blender then drying            for 48 hours at room temperature; measured in a batch of 100            seeds.        -   Flavor.—Characteristic black raspberry flavor.        -   Acidity.—pH 3.6±0.1 measured using a pH meter on pulp            extracted from crushing ripe berries and straining to remove            seeds.        -   Sweetness.—Soluble solids brix 11.5±0.5° as measured with a            refractometer on pulp extracted from crushing ripe berries            and straining to remove seeds.        -   Flavor.—Characteristic black raspberry flavor.        -   Productivity.—In the inventor's garden in 2013, for five            plants, the mean floricane crop per plant for 2013 was 583            grams. The floricane and primocane crop sizes are            illustrated together graphically in FIG. 4.        -   Heat.—Tolerant of heating conditions for Longmont, Colo.,            which is designated as American Horticultural Society heat            zones 6 and 7. Flowers and ripening berries observed to be            tolerant of daytime temperature of 95 degrees Fahrenheit or            more before harvest.        -   Hardiness.—Ripening primocane berries are frost tender.-   Floricane and floricane fruiting: Much of the upper portion of the    primocane that forms primocane flowers and berries in the autumn    dies at the end of the growing season. The rest of the primocane    goes dormant in late autumn then overwinters to become a floricane    the next spring when fruiting laterals form on the surviving portion    of retained canes. In the early spring, canes are typically pruned    to remove the portion of the cane that had fruited as primocanes the    previous autumn and to create a uniform cane height and branch    length in the row. As a result, floricane length is not a    descriptive characteristic of the cultivar. Berries ripen on    floricane fruiting laterals through mid-summer. Following the end of    floricane fruit ripening, the floricanes gradually decline and die.    Unless otherwise noted, floricane and floricane fruit and    characteristics are not materially different from primocane and    primocane fruit characteristics.-   Floricanes:    -   -   Cane color.—Glaucous; cane with waxy bloom violet 85C; waxy            bloom rubbed off greyed-purple 187A (May 20, 2012) to            greyed-purple 186C (Jul. 25, 2010).        -   Laterals.—Length variable from 17 cm to 45 cm, mean 30 cm;            mean diameter 0.3 cm; lateral count per floricane variable,            typically 12 to 19 per floricane; color near yellow-green            144B and yellow-green 145A.        -   Leaves.—Carried on fruiting laterals; odd-pinnately compound            with three leaflets, not overlapped; leaflets predominantly            elliptical to reniform, margins irregularly double serrate,            tips acute to acuminate, and base rounded to cordate; upper            side of leaf green 137A to green 139A; underside of leaf            greyed-green 194A; leaflets not pubescent. Side leaflet mean            length 6.2 cm, width 3.4 cm, from zero to two small prickles            on lower surface central rib. Terminal leaflet length 6.9            cm, width 4.2 cm.        -   Petiole.—Mean length 5.8 cm, mean diameter 0.12 cm, usually            having 2 to 6 small prickles on the underside, with a mean            of 4 prickles.        -   Petiolule.—For side leaflets, small 0 to 0.2 cm.        -   Rachis.—For terminal leaflet, mean length 2.2 cm, usually            having 0 to 2 small prickles on the underside with a mean of            1 prickle. For side leaflets, mean length 0 cm to 0.2 cm.        -   Productivity.—For five plants sampled in the inventor's            garden, the mean total floricane crop per plant for 2013 was            522 g. The floricane and primocane crop productivities are            illustrated together graphically in FIG. 4.        -   Inflorescence.—Fruiting lateral inflorescence mean 12            flowers; typically 1 to 3 flowers per leaf node on fruiting            lateral; flowers on apex inflorescence 5 to 12 flowers, mean            8.        -   Flowers.—Form typical for black raspberries, so cannot be            used to identify the cultivar. In 2010, first flowers open            May 29, most flowers completed blooming June 16. In 2011,            first flowers opened May 26, most flowers completed blooming            June 17; sepals pubescent; flower color sepals outside            yellow-green 145A, sepals inside green 147C, petals white            155C.-   Floricane berries:    -   -   Size.—In the inventor's garden in 2013, first berries            harvested Jul. 4, 2013 averaged 2 g. In 2010, first berries            ripened on July 5, which was 40 days after first flowers            open. Berries harvested Jul. 8, 2010 weighed an average of 2            g, with most berries exceeding 1.6 g. Mean diameter 1.7 cm,            mean height 1.4 cm.        -   Druplets.—Mean number of druplets per berry 106.        -   Acidity.—pH 3.4±0.1 measured using a pH meter on pulp            extracted from crushing ripe berries and straining to remove            seeds.        -   Sweetness.—Soluble solids brix 12±0.5° as measured with a            refractometer on pulp extracted from crushing ripe berries            and straining to remove seeds.        -   Color.—Near blue N92A but just a bit redder and purple N77A            but a bit darker; smear of ripe berry pulp on white plate            red 45B.        -   Seed weight.—Mean 1.6±0.1 mg; measured after separating the            seeds from the pulp with water in a blender then weighed            after drying for 48 hours at room temperature; seeds weighed            as a batch of 100 seeds.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct primocane-fruiting black raspberry plantsubstantially as described and illustrated herein.